Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
November 12, 2015
Interfaith Ministries Focuses on Reality of Diversity in Annual Dinner (Houston Chronicle) Advocacy Demonstrates God's Love, Texas Baptist Public Policy Director Says (Baptist Standard) Missouri Southern Baptist...
On Being European, Human Rights and Grace
Definitions can kill a thing. Yet, it can take more than a sign (such as a name), but some shared understanding of what that sign signifies, to allow for a discussion that goes beyond the surface. A surface (thin)...
Why Caring for Refugees Isn’t Optional for Christians
A U.S. Christian asked the gathered children if any had experienced difficulty in forgiving someone. One small boy raised his hand and said it was difficult forgiving the armed men who blew up a car, killing his uncle....
An Incarnational Christmas, Anyone?
It seems to happen every year about this time - maybe a little earlier each year. Out of respect for the religious diversity of its clientele, a retailer directs its sales people and cashiers to offer a generic "Happy...
November 11, 2015
Donald Trump: 'Maybe we Should Boycott Starbucks' (CNN) Kansas White Supremacist Sentenced to Death for Three Murders (Reuters) Jimmy Carter Gets Optimistic Update on Cancer Treatment (CNN) Praise the Lord: 9 Breweries...
3 Ways Your Church Can Reform Criminal Justice System
What issue has continued to transcend Washington's partisan gridlock? Reforming the criminal justice system. Folks on both sides of the aisle agree that it is broken, and they are finding significant agreement on how...
Prudence Trumps Doubt in Global Climate Change Survey
Affirmation that climate change is a serious problem is most prevalent in Latin America and Africa, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. The Pew report, released a month prior to the December United...
How Islamophobia Hurts America
Douglas Johnston, known as the father of faith-based diplomacy, opened a recent conference on Religious Freedom and Islamophobia at Temple University by saying, "The greatest asset we have to fight militant Islam is...
November 9, 2015
University Baptist Church: We're Going to Be Fine (Hattiesburg American) Mormon Church Bars Same-Sex Couples and Their Children from Baptism, Blessings (NBC News) Supreme Court to Hear Religious Non-Profit Challenge to...
Dear whiny American Christians…
By John Pierce Self-victimization is a favorite pastime of many American Christians, fearful of religious diversity and the loss of cultural dominance. Speaking of favorites — that is exactly what many self-victimized...
3 Spiritual Habits You Can Pass on to Your Children
My kids and I were sitting at Wendy's when all of a sudden my oldest sat straight up and said, "We need to pray!" I gave her the strangest look until I heard the distant sirens getting closer. For as long as I can...
British Churches: Benefit Cuts Will Harm Poor Families
Major churches in the United Kingdom are warning that the government's Welfare Reform and Work Bill marks a dangerous shift away from a core principle of the welfare state and will make poor people even poorer. A...
Lessons in Leadership from the Political Process
People went to the polls last Tuesday, an election day starting the one-year countdown in a presidential campaign that seems already to have gone on forever. Contenders for their party's nomination are, in addition to...
Got your passport?
Haven't you always wanted to see the majestic Parthenon, walk the impressive streets of Ephesus, or sail the Mediterranean? If you're ready, your time has arrived. Our next Nurturing Faith Experience, in collaboration...
Honoring Christ by Collecting, Recycling Cities’ Trash
Cairo, Egypt, is one of the world's largest metropolises. Many people associate Cairo with the Giza Pyramids, with one of the most impressive national museum collections in the world, and with the more recent iconic...
Evangelicals, Muslims Commit to Mutual Peace
Almost 200 evangelical pastors and Muslim imams gathered to declare their commitment to making peace with one another. These Christian and Muslim leaders gathered in Baltimore for a Spreading the Peace Convocation in...
When You Think You’re Totally Objective, Think Again
There is no such a thing as pure objectivity, a view that is free of all bias. Yet that's the claim often made by nonreligious, secular thinkers in debates about values and public policy. They argue that their views,...
November 6, 2015
Georgia Teen: Forced to Swear 'I'm Not Pregnant' on Bible (13NewsNow) Lawsuit Says Moody Bible Institute is Taking Advantage of Elderly (WSBTV) After Bizarre Freeway Sign Death, a Spotlight on Misunderstood Church...
6 Ways to Make Your Ministry Last for Long Haul
Going into ministry used to be considered a life-long calling, but we see increasing numbers of people leaving the ministry well before retirement. Recent seminary graduates will leave the ministry within five years...
U.S. Religious Participation Stable among Religiously Affiliated, Sees Overall Decline Due to “Nones”
Religious participation in the U.S. among those who affiliate with a faith tradition has remained steady. Yet, overall religious engagement has declined due to an increase in the number of people not affiliated with...
Greed: The Sin You Think Doesn’t Affect You
Few people think they are prone to greed. That was the result of an anecdotal I conducted recently as I was preparing a sermon on this topic. Folks admitted to anger, envy and gluttony, but no one confessed a problem...